Rebuilding Southern Rock Lobster Stocks On The East Coast Of Tasmania: Informing Options For Management
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$103,800.00
Summary
Rock lobster stocks off the east coast of Tasmania are in a depleted state and as a consequence a stock rebuilding strategy has been implemented. This has involved adopting a 200 tonnes east coast catch limit, comprising a catch cap for the commercial sector and a notional catch share for the recreational sector. While the commercial catch limit can be monitored and controlled directly, management of the recreational catch share is more problematic.
The recreational rock lobster fishery ....Rock lobster stocks off the east coast of Tasmania are in a depleted state and as a consequence a stock rebuilding strategy has been implemented. This has involved adopting a 200 tonnes east coast catch limit, comprising a catch cap for the commercial sector and a notional catch share for the recreational sector. While the commercial catch limit can be monitored and controlled directly, management of the recreational catch share is more problematic.
The recreational rock lobster fishery has been monitored for two decades, during which time there have been significant management changes and variability in stock abundance. The greatest changes have occurred in the east coast, which has traditionally attracted 60-70% of the state-wide recreational catch and effort. In an effort to restrict catches from that region there have been drastic reductions in bag and possession limits and a progressive reduction in season. Furthermore, major biotoxin events have resulted in closures of key areas during peak fishing periods.
High and varying levels of participation has made management of the recreational component of the fishery difficult. This situation is likely to be further exacerbated as stocks rebuild; higher catch rates are expected to attract increased effort and overall catches for the sector. For the commercial sector, the catch cap effectively represents a competitive or “Olympic” catch quota which, as catch rates improve, is likely to influence fleet dynamics and timing of catches as fishers ‘race’ to take the limited catch.
Understanding relationships between fisher behaviour, their expectations/aspirations, responses to changes in stock status and to management intervention is critical when implementing effective management strategies. This project aims to inform on the practical challenges to achieving the stock rebuilding objective and provide options to assist managers and both fishing sectors in achieving the ecological, social and economic goals for the fishery.
Objectives: 1. Determine the relationships between recreational fisher behaviour (effort and participation) and Rock Lobster catch rates and abundance 2. Assess fisher attitudes and compliance behaviour to management scenarios designed to achieve the east coast stock rebuilding objective 3. Model the effectiveness of alternative management scenarios in constraining recreational catches as stock rebuild 4. Model the impact on fleet dynamics, including economic implications, of the expected shift to an "Olympic" quota. 5. Evaluate the costs and benefits of short- and long-term management options for the east coast Rock Lobster fishery Read moreRead less
Translating Disaster Research Evidence Into Disaster Resilience And Recovery Decision-making Tools To Guide Policy And Practice
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$175,303.00
Summary
This project responds to needs that have been expressed repeatedly by government agencies, communities and service providers at local, state and national level for assistance with the challenge of translating complex disaster recovery research findings into information and resources that have immediate policy and service relevance. A series of evidence-based tools will be developed to guide decision making about how to promote disaster resilience and support disaster recovery.
People with psychotic illness, even with good treatment, do not tend to make functional recovery. They are over represented among the unemployed, the homeless, and have poorer physical health and earlier death than the general population. Despite the significant personal, societal and economic cost of these poor outcomes there has been little research into these areas. This fellowship builds on my work in vocational recovery to broaden knowledge about, and interventions for, functional recovery ....People with psychotic illness, even with good treatment, do not tend to make functional recovery. They are over represented among the unemployed, the homeless, and have poorer physical health and earlier death than the general population. Despite the significant personal, societal and economic cost of these poor outcomes there has been little research into these areas. This fellowship builds on my work in vocational recovery to broaden knowledge about, and interventions for, functional recovery in first episode psychosis.Read moreRead less
An Australasian, Multi-centre, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial Of The Efficacy Of Fluoxetine In Improving Functional Recovery After Acute Stroke
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,306,367.00
Summary
Stroke is one of the top three causes of disability. Treatments that improve recovery after stroke are lacking. We reviewed the world literature and found a number of very small studies which, together, suggest that the antidepressant drug, fluoxetine, may improve the recovery in stroke patients. AFFINITY is a large trial in 1600 Australians and New Zealanders with stroke which aims to find out whether taking fluoxetine for 6 months after a stroke improves recovery compared to a placebo.
Enhancing Social Functioning In Young People At Ultra High Risk (UHR) For Psychosis: RCT Of A Novel Strengths-based Online Social Therapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,543,657.00
Summary
Psychosis is a devastating mental health disorder that results in great personal suffering and enormous societal costs. Early intervention is seen as the most promising treatment approach with potential to bring about long-term recovery. The aims of this project are to assess the effectiveness of a highly novel strengths-based online social media intervention in preventing psychosocial deterioration and improve social functioning in young people at ultra high risk of developing psychosis.
Early Identification Of Disability To Inform Better Care And Outcomes In High Risk Patients
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$97,000.00
Summary
Australia has achieved marked improvement in hospital survivorship. We face the challenge of an ageing population, and healthcare resources need to prioritise good value care, clearly identifying high-risk patients who will not benefit from invasive and expensive interventions. This proposal takes the required next step to enable health providers to predict patients at risk of ongoing disability, optimise discharge planning, and to measure long-term health outcomes.
Healing The Past By Nurturing The Future: Learning How To Identify And Support Indigenous Parents Who Have Experienced Complex Childhood Trauma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,193,719.00
Summary
Complex childhood trauma causes profound and long-lasting effects on physical, social and emotional wellbeing, which can be triggered during the transition to parenthood and impede the capacity of parents to nurture their children. The transition offers a unique opportunity for healing and preventing intergenerational transmission of trauma. This project co-designs and evaluates acceptability and feasibility of screening and support for Indigenous parents experiencing complex trauma.
Does Antipsychotic Dose Reduction Lead To Better Functional Recovery In First Episode Psychosis: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,371,552.00
Summary
Can a person with a first episode of psychosis, once remitted, reduce their dosage of medication and still achieve better outcomes in functioning, physical health and brain volume, than if they had stayed on traditional maintenance doses of medication? This study will examine if using a dose reduction strategy in conjunction with an evidence based suite of psychosocial interventions leads to better social and vocational recovery and improved physical health and brain volume.